The Josephine oak, named after Mrs. Josephine Stewart, is the largest in the alley of 28 oaks at Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, LA. This immense tree is approximately 31’ in circumference, more than 70’ tall, and with a crown spread of approximately 150’.
It is in the west row of 14 trees in the historic alley. Oddly, most people assume the oaks at Oak Alley were planted at the same time that the plantation home was built between 1836–1839. However, according to the Oak Alley Foundation historians, only the first four oaks closest to the house were planted around the time when the home was constructed. The remaining oaks in the allee’ were planted several years later after the land closest to the river was drained.
All of the trees in the alley at Oak Alley are registered members of the Live Oak Society.
100 Oaks Project 
Ray – thanks so much for writing. I just had a conversation with Jim Foret a couple of weeks ago about this exact thing — I’ve seen age estimates of oaks your size range anywhere from 400 to 1,000 years of age, though based on the size of some oaks that I know the date that they were planted, I would estimate your oak could be in the range of 400 to 500 years of age. Though this could vary depending on the conditions where the tree is planted — soil and air quality, access to water, foot or car traffic around the tree. But this is just a best guess…
I would like to know how old (approx.) is my live oak. It is in Broussard La and about 33 feet in circumference.
Just looking at this beauty makes me homesick for my home n mobile Alabama. this is the biggest tree live oak I have ever seen. they all have a story to be told. and I’m sure there r many to.be told about this beauty of a tree. such a monster of its own. standing there like I’m the boss and will not be denined that profound statement. love the south and miss it so much. but things evolve. so that’s why I live up north. and BTW one day I will be buried under a live oak. if my family listens to my wishes. thanks for the pictures. Marian bRay Fisher.
We visited Oak Alley in October and has a chance to see these beautiful trees. They are a wonder to behold. My husband and I were in New Orleans visiting all the plantation on a fact finding trip. We are opening a bed and breakfast in Virginia on the property that James Madison was born on. I ask my husband as we walked down the path between these giants if we could have some here in Virginia. He laughed and said yes but we would live long enough to see them like this.